Two teens presumed drowned off Atlantic City beach

ATLANTIC CITY — The search for two missing teen swimmers resumes Friday as a recovery mission.

The U.S. Coast Guard joined the Atlantic City Beach Patrol last night in the search for 15-year-old Kalia Spence, and an unidentified boy who were seen struggling in the water off Martin Luther King Boulevard around 7 p.m.

Atlantic City Beach Patrol Chief Steve Downey told the Press of Atlantic City that Spence was in trouble and the boy went in after her. Spence's father Dirk told the newspaper the boy is a hero. "It’s a tragedy. Let’s all come together, no matter good or bad, we can make it through," Spence told the newspaper.

"The threat of dangerous rip currents increased yesterday due to a wind shift to an easterly (on-shore) direction. A moderate risk of rip currents will continue for Friday and the upcoming weekend," NJ 101.5 Chief Meteorologist Dan Zarrow said.